Sharp County record., 1887-02-17
THE CHURCH POOR.

-, F..reetio Call for Reform In Public
"u and Private Manners
SH r. is one of the pet theories OF the
,ilanthropist that kindness and court
we " beget like sentiments in the hearts
ere ! those toward whom they are eXer-
Ian sed. But practical experience so often
sproyes the truth of this pretty maxim
lice ,at none but those generous spirits,
oa ant on believing only the best OF hu-
Dc Do Ianitty, could long withstand the daily
tier xhibitions of egregious selfshnesS and
utalitv that come under the observa-
rv. on of ALL Street, shop, car, theater,
de. nd even the church, are platforms
SIR hereon are constantly exposed
ait 1ch conspicuous examples of rude
ess that ordinary persons are led
IL distrust the presence of even that
s. lsceptibility to right feeling which is
ne groundwork of all decent behavior.
10. very Sunday our church doors are
rv. hipnged with persons who, by their
or. resence, ask admittance to the serv-
rv ,es. In the main sections and pew
wners are polite and patient with this
ret ost of strangers. Seats are provided
~ ,r them and they are entertained hos
.: itably. But this consideration and
v ourtesy is by no means appreciated
is the few, rather than the many,
rho seem to understand that they are
j., moving a privilege. The greater
l., umber of these persons conduct them
40 elves as though they had secured a
Y ight, and proposed to show an ag-
ressiye front lest it should be
u rested from them. They have
OF come to the house
1t fworship in the attitude of worshipers,
u even of respectful lookers-on, but in
L ne undisguised manner of the spec
y ator at a show And even under this
L spect, the of'cnse would be less did
ley not, with utter disregard of the
e ceilings of those who have treated them
18th Kindness, noiSily leave the place
hen their curiosity has become ap-
e eased. Such af'rOnts to all kinds OF
: eviction and propriety are too mon
5rous not 70 deserve severe condemna-
on. it is q delicate matter for a
lergyman to handle, and but little less
Embarrassing for the members Of the
congregation, whose just protests would
e misunderstood. The press, there
ore, which takes upon itself many un-
racious tasks-and in a spirit the
isinterestedness of which it does not
xpect to have recognized-may speak
ere a much needed word of reprOyal
{ each individual in a crowd could be
isabused of the feeling that he shares
he responsibility Of his action with his
nknown neighborS, he might feel a
eeper sense of obligation to conduct
imself properly. But he fancies he is
ut of sight, and he is influenced BY
he lawlcssness which peryades an as
embly where the individuals oppose in
themselves no moral resistance. lie
links like a coward in the shadows of
umberS, and does what he would
lot do by himself in the full light
f observation. To be sure, he
not moved by shame of
Ioing mean thing, but the shame of
,eing seen to DO what is generally
hought to be mean. How can a class
poor in moral honor be reached?
simply, in case like the one under
Consideration, by p"oclaiming in what
light some of its actions generally ap-
,ear. For instance, itmay be that per-
ons who noisily leave the church,
where they hive sought and accepted
rec seats, during the service, may not
inow that they are looked upon with
surprise and contempt by the greater
part of the congregation, and would be
Jet down as Doors in any fairly en-
ightened community Now and
hen person is i'll and is COM
,eled to leave church, but it does not
happen that a dozen or more are taken
suddenly i'll in the same church at the
;ame time, and on the occasion to
which we refer, the number of these
luisanceS was not less than twelve.
There is great deal said about the ex-
,lusive conduct of our churches on the
part of the greater class of non-church-
goers, but justice demands for once, at
east, their cause should be espoused and
hat the public should be warned not
% tax too heavily their generosity and
oleration. Boston Herald.